Disney Resorts Offer Pirate Ship and Treehouse Getaways

Only at Walt Disney World Resort can you meet faeries, laugh along with Monsters, train like an astronaut, safari into the wild, and plunge from a hotel elevator. Disney theme parks offer an incredible variety of unbelievable experiences, and in keeping with that specialty, Disney resorts will soon offer more of the same. From rooms that are ripe for pirate escapades to villas that take you back to your childhood tree house, Disney’s latest resort creations will foster adventures that you’ll remember just as much as the ones you had at the parks.

First, families with young swashbucklers can ensure an unforgettable holiday when they book one of the new Pirate rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Designed in the spirit of the film Pirates of the Caribbean, these rooms in the Trinidad South Village area are decked out with pirate ship beds and buccaneer’s accessories for a complete pirate experience. Approximately 380 pirate rooms will be available for guests beginning in January 2009.

You’ll feel ready to hit the high seas on one of two double-sized beds, adorned with a wooden headboard complete with a mast. The swashbuckler décor also includes dressers that look like old crates, and curtains that look like tattered sails complete with a skull emblazoned on them. Rooms also include a table and chairs, a vanity area and bathroom with two sinks, and amenities like an in-room safe, mini-fridge, and coffee maker. The Pirate rooms are also available with a view of the courtyard and woodlands, or a view of the lake or pool.

If pirates aren’t your thing, never fear – you can still have some wild fun at the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. A cherished Disney tradition since 1975, these treehouse villas are currently being revived into brand-new vacation homes specially designed by Disney Imagineers. Taking special care to honor the treehouses’ original octagonal design, Imagineers worked to reconstruct the villas in a way that would lessen their environmental footprint while upgrading them in comfort and style.

Elevated ten feet off the ground and supported by concrete columns, the Treehouse Villas offer breathtaking views of the surrounding woods. And they’re definitely a step up from the rope ladder-accessible treehouse of your childhood; villas feature three bedrooms and two baths and will comfortably accommodate up to nine guests. Cathedral ceilings, granite countertops, and an open kitchen with an island sink and counter area add to the glamorous cabin environment, while flat screen TVs and a whirlpool tub offer opportunities for fun after a day at the parks.

The Treehouse Villas will be available in summer 2009 and will set a new standard for environmentally friendly resorts. Imagineers were able to reduce encroachment on the surrounding wetlands by 70% for each villa, and 65% of materials from demolition were recycled, including concrete and metals.

Next time you have to choose a resort for your Walt Disney World vacation, consider a room that continues the fun even after you return from the parks. With pirate rooms at the Caribbean Beach Resort and treehouse escapes at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, you can guarantee a vacation that your whole family will love. You might even find that these rooms have you plotting pirate adventures and sword fighting with your kids – that’s the magic of Disney.

Capital One Bowl Kicks Off the New Year

After a wild night of partying to usher in 2009, there is no doubt revelers will want to take it easy on January 1st. And what better way is there to relax and have fun at the same time than with a rousing game of football? No ordinary game will do though – it is the beginning of the New Year, after all. Thankfully, the Capital One Bowl is anything but ordinary; this heated battle between two powerhouse champions from the Southeastern Conference and the Big Ten Conference will keep fans on the edge of their seats at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium at 1 pm on January 1st.

This year, the Capital One Bowl will feature the University of Georgia and Michigan State University in their second meeting ever between the two schools. The Bowl will be televised nationally on ABC and is sure to be a heated battle, with both teams vying for their tenth win.

“This will be a showcase for two of the best running backs in the country,” said Steve Hogan, the Executive Director of Florida Citrus Sports. “Both Michigan State and Georgia have something to prove at 9-3 and conference bragging rights are on the line with the Big Ten winning the bowl’s last four games to bring the head-to-head record to 8-8 over the last 16 years.”

The Georgia Bulldogs finished the season 9-3 after suffering losses against two of the nation’s top teams, Alabama and Florida. Meanwhile, the Michigan State Spartans finished 9-3 after a loss to Penn State that killed all hopes of a Big Ten title, yet they still posted their highest finish in the league since 1999. The Spartans are returning to Orlando for the second consecutive year after playing in last year’s Champs Sports Bowl.

Not only will New Year’s Day promise a great game, but sports fans can also gear up for the Bowl in the days preceding it. It starts as early as December 30th at 11 am with the Spherion Orlando Citrus Parade in Downtown Orlando and the Bowl-a-Palooza Fanfest at Pointe Orlando on International Drive. Part of a weeklong festival that includes the Champs Sports Bowl on December 27th, Bowl-a-Palooza gives bowl fans a chance to unite and enjoy music, food, entertainment, and college football excitement.

The fun continues on December 31st at noon with the Capital One Bowl Kickoff Luncheon at SeaWorld Orlando’s Renaissance, and with the final Capital One FanFest at 9 am on January 1st at McCracken Field. True fans can also ring in the New Year with their favorite teams at the Capital One Bowl’s official New Year’s Eve Party at Universal Orlando. The Michigan State Band will perform at 2 pm at the park, and Georgia’s Band will perform at 3 pm.

Since 2006, more than 100,000 fans flock to Central Florida for the all the Bowl festivities. Though many other cities host bowl games, only Orlando offers this much fun and entertainment in one week. Don’t miss all the action as the Capital One Bowl delivers a fun day of college football that will make for a memorable start to your year.

What is Celebration, Anyway?

Visitors on their way to Florida via I-4 might have seen a sign or two leading to “Celebration.” This festively named city is located near Walt Disney World, and you might have even heard one or two interesting things about it. You might have heard, for example, that it’s an ultra-private city masterminded by Walt Disney as the perfect community. You might have also heard that it’s inhabited exclusively by Walt Disney World executives and employees. You may have even been told that Celebration features audioanimatronic wildlife (robotic birds and bees). Rumors about this city run the gamut, but while people are quick to gush all the juicy secrets about Celebration, no one is telling the real story.

Believe it or not, it’s really just a regular town.

What makes Celebration special, and what has sparked its illustrious reputation as a Disney-fied city, is that it was developed by the Walt Disney Company. In the early 1990s, the Disney Development Company established the Celebration Company to spearhead its development within 4,900 acres of land in the southern portion of the Reedy Creek Improvement District. This land eventually became Celebration in 1994, a $2.5 billion master-planned community designed in an early 20th century-architectural style.

Many say that Celebration was designed to be a realization of one of Walt Disney’s plans. Before his death, Disney had created an ambitious concept for a city – the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. In this city of the future, there would be no home ownership and no unemployment. People would zip to home and work on underground roads, and weather would never be an issue, because the city would be underneath a climate-controlled dome. This is obviously a far cry from what Celebration is today, an idealized small town where in fact, there are only homeowners. Disney’s prototype of a dream city actually morphed into Epcot, which you’ll notice is the abbreviation of Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.

Since Celebration was run by The Celebration Company early on, there were some unusual decisions made that were geared more toward Disney profits rather than town prosperity. For example, the downtown area was developed with several collectible stores, but no gas stations. Today, however, Celebration is now a part of Kissimmee and Osceola County as a non-incorporated city. The Celebration Company only owns a few commercial parcels on Celebration Boulevard. And though some employees of Walt Disney World do live in Celebration, there are certainly plenty of non-Disney employees living in the town.

Celebration has also caught a rep for its housing rules; homeowners are required to maintain the upkeep of their homes, and window treatments must be neutral colors (not all white, contrary to popular belief). What maybe causes people to talk about Celebration so much, however, is the fact that the town truly is beautiful. The bank, post office, movie theater, town hall, and other downtown buildings were all designed by renowned architects. The streets are clean, and the crime rate is low. And though residents don’t zip around on underground roads, they do frequently use Segway scooters and small electric cars called “NEVs” (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle).

To anyone coming from a less wholesome place in the country, Celebration might not seem real. It might seem like some kind of animatronic Disney production. But in actuality, Celebration is really just a nice place to live. A place that maybe at one point or another, got a little Disney fairy dust sprinkled on it.

End-of-the-Year Fun With Music and Shamu at SeaWorld

In the last few blogs, we’ve talked about options for celebrating New Year’s Eve at Orlando theme parks – and boy, there are plenty. In addition to the fun on December 31st at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, there’s also going to be some incredible end-of-the-year festivities at SeaWorld Orlando. So head on over to your favorite water-themed park as they pull out all the stops for a memorable New Year’s Eve celebration.

On December 31st from 9 pm to 12:30 am, jazz and swing group Michael Andrew and his 18-piece Atomic Big Band will be keeping the party going with continuous music and excitement during their performances at SeaWorld’s Bayside Stadium. Guests can jump, jive, and wail along to the music, as well as enjoy their favorite thrill rides and classic SeaWorld entertainment late into the evening.

A live DJ will also be on hand providing plenty of tunes for dancing, and at the Waterfront at midnight, all eyes will look to the sky for a fabulous fireworks show over the water. SeaWorld will be open on New Year’s Eve from 9 am until 1 am, so it’s a great opportunity to enjoy your favorite park for extended hours for the price of regular admission.

In addition to enjoying all the park’s festivities and the jazz stylings of Michael Andrew and the Atomic Big Band, guests will also have a one-of-a-kind chance to dine with Shamu on December 31st. This unforgettable New Year’s Eve dinner with your favorite orca starts with a reception at Shamu’s Underwater Viewing. While they get to view SeaWorld’s most incredible orca, Guests will snack on canapés like Smoked Beef and Spiced Chicken and receive a Welcome Drink in a Lighted Souvenir Glass.

Then, it’s time for a delicious dinner buffet with chef-attended stations at the Dine with Shamu area (SeaWorld’s exclusive behind-the-scenes venue). Guests will nosh on tasty dishes such as tri-colored cheese tortellini, grilled Mahi Mahi, Spanish paella, and more; special kids’ selections will also be available. After dinner, guests will be treated to an elite Shamu interaction. That’s not all – after some fun with Shamu, guests will get to see the Shamu Rocks Show from VIP seats, in addition to the Michael Andrew jazz show, which they’ll also be able to enjoy from reserved seating. It’s an incredible VIP experience that ends with the explosive fireworks show at midnight. New Year’s Eve at Dine with Shamu requires a separate ticket in addition to regular admission.

If you can’t make it to SeaWorld on New Year’s because you have other plans, do try to squeeze in a trip before the end of the year; from December 26th through December 30th, guests can enjoy nightly holiday concerts by the Orlando Philharmonic, performing selections from The Polar Express. The concerts will be held at Bayside Stadium with fireworks immediately following, so it’s a fun precursor to a New Year’s Eve blowout.

So make a splash as you ring in 2009 this December with all the music, fun, and excitement at SeaWorld. And remember to save on discount SeaWorld tickets at DWTickets.com – it’ll make celebrating the New Year that much sweeter.

Ring in the New Year at Universal Studios

We’ve kept you in the know about all the New Year’s Eve festivities over at Walt Disney World, and now it’s Universal Studios Orlando's turn. Though Walt Disney World might have some of the best fireworks shows and parades on December 31st for a memorable, family-friendly way to ring in the New Year, Universal Studios is where the party’s at. You can bid a particularly fond farewell to 2008 and rock in 2009 at Universal CityWalk with the "Takin’ the Party to the Streets" celebration on December 31st, from 8pm to 2 am.

In this wild, end-of-the-year celebration, it’s all about the music and food in a raucous street party that will say hello to 2009 with a bang. Live performances from the Doobie Brothers and other bands will keep the streets of CityWalk grooving all night long, along with music in every club, all-you-can-eat gourmet food, and more.

On December 31st, be sure to bounce around to all the clubs and restaurants at CityWalk -- the special one-night-only party ticket includes all-night admission to them all. Live entertainment will be featured at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom, the groove, Latin Quarter, Pat O’Brien’s, Red Coconut Club, and CityWalk’s Rising Star. In addition to hot music, you’ll also be able to find Chef-attended food stations featuring cuisine from each CityWalk venue. There’ll be Jammin’ Jambalaya, Paella, Cheeseburgers in Paradise, and Jumbo Shrimp, just to name a few. Partiers will also be able to find delicious dishes at Chef Carving Stations and Buffets, offering everything from Roasted Applewood Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon Tips to Skewered Fruits with Chocolate Fondue.

Then, just before midnight, party hats will go on and noisemakers will be passed around to usher in the New Year. The countdown will end in merriment and a midnight champagne toast for all.

If you do have the family in tow, the "Takin’ the Party to the Streets" celebration at CityWalk probably isn’t an option for celebrating the New Year – guests must be at least 21 years old to party. Don’t be discouraged, though – you can always ring in 2009 at Universal Studios theme park. The park will be open late on December 31st from 8 am to 1 am (Islands of Adventure will be open from 8 am to 10 pm).

At Universal, you can enjoy all your favorite rides late until the evening, and don’t miss the final showing of Universal 360 – A Cinesphere Spectacular at the end of the night. Through unique “Cinesphere” technology, this show recreates the sights and sounds of some of Hollywood’s biggest films projected onto the huge spheres in the Universal Studios lagoon, along with one of the largest laser and pyrotechnics displays in Florida. For folks staying at the resort, there are also New Year’s Eve party packages at the Hard Rock Hotel and the Loews Royal Pacific Resort.

So this New Year’s Eve, don’t stay home watching the countdown on TV. Start 2009 in style with the celebrations at Universal Studios and CityWalk. Save on discount Universal Studios tickets at DWTickets.com, and you’ll be on your way to some incredible New Year’s festivities.

Get Ready for an Explosive New Year’s at Walt Disney World

As the holidays and the end of the year draws nearer, we’ve reached that time in December when everyone starts talking about what their plans are for New Year’s Eve. And we here at DWTickets.com would be remiss if we didn’t keep you informed about all your options for ringing in 2009 at Walt Disney World. This year’s celebrations are bound to be spectacular, with dazzling fireworks shows, live entertainment, and extended park hours throughout Walt Disney World on December 31st.

The parks are especially getting ready to launch an incredible show in the sky, with almost every one hosting its own special nighttime fireworks display. At Disney's Epcot, a special version of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth will be presented just in time for the New Year. This laser-light spectacular features dancing flames, cascading fountains, and incredible fireworks set to an original musical score. New Year’s revelers will be able to see the show at 11:40 pm, and those who want to turn in early can see the show at 7:40 pm. Epcot will be open late for the night’s festivities, from 8 am to 1 am.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the party is going on all day, starting with the Block Party Bash at 3 pm, an interactive parade featuring all your favorite Disney Pixar characters. Then, don’t miss the Fantasmic! Show, a lavish spectacular of water animation, lasers, and fireworks, taking place at 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm. In the evening, the in-park band “Mulch, Sweat, and Shears” will be giving live performances, and a DJ will be keeping the park grooving at Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat. Then at 11:50 pm, the celebrations will be capped with a special Lights, Camera, Happy New Year fireworks show. Hollywood Studios will be open from 9 am until midnight.

And finally, at Disney's Magic Kingdom, partiers can enjoy parades and fireworks all day in celebration of the New Year. At noon and 3 pm, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade will light up the park streets with holiday cheer, followed by the SpectroMagic parade at 7 pm and 10:30 pm. Then the Holiday Wishes show will light up the sky at 8:30 with the biggest and brightest pyrotechnics display at Disney. And just when you thought Disney had outdone itself, the Fantasy in the Sky fireworks show will provide the grand finale to the evening at 11:50 pm. Magic Kingdom will be open on New Year’s Eve from 8 am to 2 am.

With so much going on at the Disney theme parks on New Year’s Eve, deciding which one to ring in the New Year at will be a tough decision. Hollywood Studios will certainly have a lot of music and fun going on throughout the whole day, but the New Year’s edition of IlluminNations: Reflections of Earth is sure to be breathtaking. Then again, there’s nothing like seeing fireworks light up the sky next to Cinderella’s Castle at Magic Kingdom. No matter where you choose to celebrate, New Year’s Eve is sure to be incredible at Walt Disney World. Be sure to arrive at your chosen park early that day, as the parks are a popular place to ring in the New Year and often reach capacity. So get with your friends, start making those plans now, and remember to get your discount Disney tickets at DWTickets.com.

"American Idol" is Coming to Disney World

Do you love watching American Idol every season? Do you avidly root for your favorite performers from start to finish? Or do you, perhaps, have a dream of one day appearing on the show yourself? With the new American Idol Experience coming to Walt Disney World in 2009, you can enjoy all these aspects of your favorite show and more!

At the American Idol Experience, a new attraction opening in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests will be able to get a taste of America’s most beloved reality competition. Following the model of the high-energy show, Disney guests will get to experience the change of auditioning and the rush of performing on stage in competition. For those who don’t fancy themselves to be stage-savvy enough, you can walk in the shoes of Simon Cowell or Paula Abdul and judge performances in a live interactive entertainment setting. Or, you can just sit back, watch, and enjoy the show.

The Experience will include an audition process, open to all, where guests perform “live” in front of a Hollywood Studios producer. If the producers choose you as their next star, you’ll be taken backstage to prepare for a live show later in front of an audience and panel of judges. You’ll even get to work with a vocal coach and get pampered by a make-up artist in preparation for your big stage finale.

The performers with the highest votes will compete in an end-of-day Grand Finale, where the winner will receive a special Dream ticket – a guaranteed reservation to sing in front of an American Idol representative at a future regional stadium audition. Best yet, winners of the Dream Ticket will get to bypass all those dreadfully long lines at the regional audition.

The Experience truly replicates every aspect of the TV show, from the nerve-wracking audition experience to the set. When guests perform on stage in front of a live audience, they’ll be doing so in the Experience’s main theater, which is designed to look just like the American Idol stage. Audience members also get to vote like they would at home, with electronic keypads at their seats. You’ll feel like Ryan Seacrest is about to pop out at any moment – and at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, who knows? They might even have an animatronic version of him! (Wouldn’t that be creepy?) Even America’s most recent Idol, David Cook, will be making a special appearance in the new attraction, via video.

The American Idol Experience will offer several shows for guests daily and is expected to open in January/February. Only guests age 14 and older will be able to audition, although anyone will be able to watch and judge. The Experience will definitely provide a fun addition to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and it might even be better than watching the show at home – no commercials! Be sure to keep an eye out for this cool new attraction at the beginning of 2009, and don’t wait until the last minute to get your tickets. Score discount Hollywood Studios tickets now at DWTickets.com, and soon, you just might find yourself performing on the American Idol stage.

See the Future of NFL at Disney’s Pop Warner Super Bowl

There is only one event where you can see future stars of the NFL, along with the future cheerleaders and dancers who will be rooting them on – the Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer & Dance Championship. From December 6th through December 13th, the nation’s top youth football players will compete at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex for the 52nd annual Pop Warner Super Bowl. The Bowl will be taking place alongside the cheer and dance competition, which brings thousands of cheerleaders from all over the country to Orlando.

This year, more than 60 youth football teams nationwide battled through local and regional tournaments in order to come to Walt Disney World for the Pop Warner Super Bowl. Teams will compete in four divisions based on weight and age: Jr. Pee Wee (ages 8-10), Pee Wee (ages 9-11), Jr. Midget (ages 10-12), and Midget (ages 11-14). In addition, there are two divisions, Division I and II, each fielding 32 teams. During the 7-day event, 72 games in total will take place.

Since 70% of current NFL players got their start in the Pop Warner Super Bowl, there’s a strong likelihood that many of this year’s players will go on to become NFL stars. Heisman Trophy winners Tim Tebow, Troy Smith, Matt Leinart, Carson Palmer, and Reggie Bush are all Pop Warner Super Bowl alumni.

All the Bowl games will take place on the Hess Sports Fields, the same fields used by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during training camp. This is the Pop Warner’s 14th consecutive year at Walt Disney World.

While the games are going on out on the fields, the National Cheer and Dance Championship will featuring competing cheerleading and dance teams from communities and schools throughout the nation. From December 8th through December 12th, the championship will pit over 350 squads against each other for the title of National Champion.

Squads will compete in four age classifications and vary in size and skill level. On the stage of the Wide World of Sport’s Milk House, each team will perform their best two minute and thirty second routine complete with music and cheering. It’s a heated competition that teams often prepare all year for.

The Wide World of Sports is host to several national youth and high school football events throughout the year, such as the NFL Flag Football National Championships. The sprawling complex features eight different venues for amateur and professional sports and entertainment events, including 11 tennis courts, and stadium court, and a track & field complex.

Anyone is welcome to come watch the Pop Warner Super Bowl or the National Cheer and Dance Championship. For anyone who’s not participating in event, admission to the Wide World of Sports Complex is $12.75 for those ages 10 and up and $10 for children ages 9 and under. You can also catch the Midget Championship Game on TV when it airs on ESPN and ESPN2 during the week of the NFL Super Bowl. Don’t miss all the fun when young football players and cheerleaders compete for glory and a national title!

SeaWorld Manta Update

One thing to look forward to in 2009 is definitely the opening of the new SeaWorld Orlando attraction, Manta. Said to be the biggest single investment in the history of any SeaWorld park, this mega-ride will give guests the unique sensation of being a Manta ray as it swoops over sea and sky on a manta-inspired flying roller coaster.

As the ride is coming along, construction-wise, we can tell you that Manta already looks super-cool. The loading station is beginning to take shape, an area that will eventually sit at the center of the park. The highest point of the coaster was added in late October, a bright two-toned sky blue and royal blue track that swirls up to a maximum height of 140 feet and drops to a maximum of 113 feet. According to SeaWorld, everything is on schedule for a Summer 2009 opening.

Following in the tradition of animal-ride combinations over at Aquatica, Manta will begin with an incredible 184,000 gallon underwater animal habitat. Guests will be able to see 3,000 animals in ten different aquariums, featuring rays, sea dragons, sea horses, and over 2,500 fish. The aquariums will offer floor-to-ceiling, 9 foot tall views, as well as an overhead viewing panels so that visitors can see schools of rays swimming above their heads.

After feeling inspired by the rays’ incredible underwater habits, guests will then transition into the Manta ride, which will take them on a wild ride underneath the belly of a coaster train shaped like a giant manta. Guests will fly face-down, in a horizontal position, as the manta glides, swoops, and dives up to nearly 60 mph. The ride will include four inversions on 3,359 feet of track and will swoop through the sky and over the sea, getting so close to the water that the Manta’s 12-foot wings barely skim the waves.

If you’re not a fan of rollercoaster’s and Manta sounds more like madness to you than a
good time, SeaWorld assures us that the aquarium and queue will be an attraction in itself. Upon entering Manta’s queue, visitors will feel as though they’re in a seaside village. As guests wind through the mythical village, they’ll enjoy artisan-created engravings and artwork that celebrate ray legend and lore. Anticipation to the ride will build as they continue winding through caverns adorned with ray-inspired hand-crafted art in marble, jewels, and mosaics.

Manta will be SeaWorld Orlando’s second major roller coaster – the other is Kraken. Manta is being constructed by Swiss design company Bolliger & Mabillard, who are also responsible for the creation of Kraken as well as the Incredible Hulk Coaster and Dueling Dragons rides at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. The 7-acre Manta ride will be located inside the main entrance to SeaWorld and will tower over the park’s 200 acres.

We can’t wait until Manta is finished, and you can bet that when this unique, new ride opens next year, DWTickets.com will be there to give you all the awesome details. Until then, Orlando theme park-goers will have to satisfy themselves with the normal array of SeaWorld fun, which is none too shabby either. The park is even more fun when you score your discount SeaWorld tickets here at DWTickets.com. See you at SeaWorld!

Holiday Festivals Bring Fun and Cheer to Orlando

With all the fun holiday festivities that the Orlando theme parks have to offer, you may not want to stray outside the parks for seasonal fun this winter. However, you and your family would definitely be missing out if you didn’t, as Orlando is home to several exciting and unique holiday festivals. From a holiday festival that takes you back in time to a cultural holiday celebration, be sure to check out some of these fun events happening soon in the Orlando metropolitan area.

On December 6th, one of Orlando’s largest holiday celebrations will attract over 8,000 people when the Navidad Jibara festival comes to town. Located on the TG Lee Boulevard Grounds near Orlando International Airport, the 7th annual festival is Central Florida’s largest Hispanic-focused holiday celebration. The highly anticipated Navidad Jibara festival celebrates the holiday season traditions of Puerto Rico and the rest of the Hispanic community. However, that’s not to say that this is a Hispanics-only event; anyone can come and enjoy the music, exhibits, and traditional Latin food.

And what place is more appropriate for a holiday festival than Fort Christmas? Located twenty miles east of Orlando, this fort replica was modeled after a fort and stockade created by a force of 2,000 US Army volunteers and Alabama volunteers on December 25th, 1837. One of over 200 forts built during the Second Seminole Indian War, the fort was abandoned in March 1838 and reproduced by Orange County Parks Department in 1977. Today, the replica of the fort houses historical exhibits and presentations, as well as ten restored historical homes and structures built in the “Cracker” architecture of East Orange County.

During the Cracker Christmas Weekend on December 6th and 7th, the fort celebrates its namesake holiday with an annual festival of arts and crafts. Visitors can enjoy a large craft fair, special exhibits, and lots of great food. There’ll also be Florida Cracker demonstrations of arts from pioneer times, including broom making, spinning and weaving, blacksmithing, wood carving, Dutch oven cooking, and more.

Finally, on December 13th, the city of Kissimmee in Orlando-neighboring Osceola County will host a scaled-down version of its annual Holiday Extravaganza. From 4 to 6 pm at Toho Square, families can enjoy Santa’s Social at Toho Square, where kids can visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. And at night, the downtown streets of Kissimmee will illuminate with the Festival of Lights Parade at 6 pm, featuring Santa Claus and Scott & Erica from the Morning show on Mix 105.1. Food vendors will also be present offering tasty holiday treats during this seasonal spectacle.

So this winter, take a break from the parks to enjoy some of the sights and sounds of the season around Orlando and its neighboring cities. Be sure to also check out Celebration Town Center’s “Now Snowing” event, which features carolers, Santa, carriage rides, and nightly snowfall. And on December 4th and 5th, stop by Winter Park to see the Holiday Stroll & Tree Lighting Ceremony, along with the annual lighting of a special Tiffany’s window holiday display in Central Park. With all the fun and magic of these seasonal events, there’s no place like Orlando Florida for the holidays.

Holiday Cheer You Can Only Hear at Universal Studios

In the past few weeks, our readers have had the chance to find out all about the various holiday attractions at Orlando theme parks. A lot of the coverage has been centering on Walt Disney World, we admit, due to the sheer number of parks and activities it has going during the holiday season. But that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten about Orlando’s other gem, Universal Studios. Famous as the home of the Grinch, that mean, green anti-Christmas fiend, the Studios offers lots of fun holiday entertainment that will warm the Grinch’s heart and yours during "Holiday Cheer You Can Only Hear Here." This festive celebration from December 6th through January 1st features the sounds and sights of the season along with all the classic Universal fun you love year-round.

The fun starts at Universal Islands of Adventure as Seuss Landing is transformed into the wintry land of Grinchmas. You’ll love strolling around the Whoville Wonky Tree Lot and taking in all the whimsical Wholiday decorations. The highlight of Grinchmas, however, is definitely the popular, live musical performance of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Starring the Grinch and featuring music recorded by Mannheim Steamroller, this hilarious and heart-warming show will have you singing along with a whole town of singing and dancing Whos.

And while you’re in Grinchmas, don’t miss out on a chance to meet the man himself – not Santa Claus, the Grinch! The green one will be available for autographs and photographs, and you and the family can even have breakfast with him. The Grinchmas Character Breakfast is available on select dates and includes an all-inclusive buffet at Confisco Grille, where you’ll nosh with the Grinch and many more Seuss characters, including the happy Whos.

Over at Universal Studios proper, be sure to catch the popular Macy’s Holiday Parade at dusk every evening. This annual favorite brings balloons and floats straight from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City and features marching bands, colorful street performers, and more. After every parade, you’ll see the Studios’ spectacular tree being lit with festive music and an incredible display of lights.

Universal will also feature fun holiday shows such as the KidZone Holiday Show, Barney’s Christmas Show, and the Blues Brothers Christmas Show, all featuring your favorite seasonal characters singing and dancing along to festive holiday music. And at the end of every night from December 26th through December 31st, wrap up your day at the Studios with the Universal 360 – A Cinesphere Spectacular. This Hollywood finale projects sights and sounds from your favorite films onto huge spheres in the Universal Studios lagoon, along with a spectacular laser and pyrotechnic display.

All the fun kicks off on December 6th, when Mannheim Steamroller will perform live at the park for the first time ever. You’ll groove along as the band performs original songs from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and puts their modern twist on some of your favorite holiday tunes with songs from their newest album Christmasville.

Best yet, all the fun and festivities are included with your admission, so there’s no excuse not to enjoy all the holiday cheer at Universal Studios. And with the big savings you’ll get from buying your discount Universal Studios tickets here at DWTickets.com, you’ll be hearing the Whos and Mannheim Steamroller in no time. And who knows? At Universal Studios, your heart just might even grow a couple sizes.